Former Idaho county sheriff's employee pleads guilty to theft

MOSCOW, Idaho -- A former Latah County sheriff's office employee has pleaded guilty to charges filed after more than $56,000 went missing from office revenue from 2007 to 2011.

Rhonda Bunney of Princeton entered her plea Tuesday, after the first day of her trial on a charge of misuse of public money. Defense attorney James Siebe said new information came to light which led his client to plead guilty, but he declined to elaborate.

Bunney, who is 49, was charged last April with skimming more than $56,000, but pleaded guilty to altering documents resulting in a loss of $300. Sentencing is set for April 22. Restitution will be set later.

Sheriff Wayne Rausch testified Monday that an audit found money missing in the fingerprinting, jail commissary and jail phone funds. The audit cost more than $26,000.